Bill Belichick’s offseason job search came to a disappointing end last week, as a number of general managers chose to hire young, unproven coaches they had prior relationships with instead of the eight-time Super Bowl champion. The Commanders hired Dan Quinn, the Panthers hired Dave Canales, and the Falcons promoted Raheem Morris. While these decisions may seem puzzling on the surface, they highlight the importance of relationships in the coaching industry.
Belichick, known as “The Hoodie,” has never been known for his ability to build relationships. He is often compared to Larry David, the curmudgeonly character from the show “Curb Your Enthusiasm.” Both Belichick and David have a knack for unintentional comedy and possess some of the worst people skills in their respective fields.
Belichick’s lack of relationship-building skills has caused problems throughout his career. He resigned from the Jets coaching job at his introductory press conference and left Jets brass to pick up the pieces. His stint in Cleveland also ended prematurely due to his deteriorating relationship with owner Art Modell. Belichick’s inability to maintain relationships even extended to his players, as he often made enemies of veterans he cut or decided not to re-sign.
This lack of relationship-building has affected Belichick’s coaching tree as well. His likely assistants, Josh McDaniels and Matt Patricia, have both struggled in head coaching roles. McDaniels burned bridges when he backed out of the Indianapolis Colts’ head coaching position, and Patricia had a disastrous stint as a defensive coordinator.
Belichick’s history with Atlanta’s Rich McKay also played a role in his failed job search. McKay, who was responsible for reigning in Belichick’s manipulation of the league’s rules, reportedly badmouthed him during the interview process. There were even reports that Belichick would only accept the Falcons job if McKay was frozen out of football decisions.
Ultimately, Belichick’s next job will have to be with an organization that can handle the non-football related baggage he brings with him. It remains to be seen where he will end up, but it is clear that his lack of relationship-building skills and his history with certain individuals have hindered his job search.
In conclusion, Bill Belichick’s offseason job search ended in disappointment due to his inability to build relationships and his history with certain individuals. While his coaching record speaks for itself, it seems that many general managers opted for young, unproven coaches they had prior relationships with instead of the eight-time Super Bowl champion. Belichick’s next job will have to be with an organization that can handle the baggage he brings with him, both on and off the field.
